Strip of roofing materials



June 23, 1936. P. HARSIV-IIBERGER v 4,

STRIP OF ROOFING MATERIALS Filed Feb. 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l l I IIIIIIIHHHHHIIIIH I INVENTOR {11 1 2 fl m yg z ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES STRIP or noormcr mrnams Norman P. Harshberger, Scarsdale, N. Y., as-

signor to Bakelite Building Products Co. Inc.,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 28, 1933, Serial No. 658,958

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in roofing and siding elements, a process of making same and to their assembly on a building.

It is an object of this invention to produce shingle elements or strips which can be conveniently out from sheets or a web of shingle material.

Another object is to provide shingle strips having at least one serrated edge and which are provided with surface ornamentation which in cooperation with the edge of the strips produce a roof of pleasing appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide by a novel means strip shingles, simple to manufacture, foolproof to lay, that produce a. roof of offset brick-like figures.

A still further object of the invention is to provide suitable means for locking down the exposed portion of the shingle and for locking the adjacent shingles together.

A still further object is to provide pairs of similar shingle strips having alternating wide and narrow parallel bands thereon, the wide bands being of contrasting color, the colors on one strip being complementarily reversed from those on the other strip so that when the strips are laid, a roof of variegated figures will be produced.

Another object of my invention is to provide 30 shingles having contrasting efiects thereon that are distinctly emphasized from one another, and that when assembled on a roof produce independent figures without the ends of said effects registering at any particular point with effects on adjacent elements.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved shingle elements, process, assembly and parts and combinations thereof, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a. plan view of one form of shingle strip embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a sheet or web illustrating a method of cutting the elements of Fig. 1 from a sheet;

Fig. 3 illustrates a method of cutting the strips of Fig. 1 from a double width sheet without waste;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a number of shingles as they appear when assembled upon a roof;

Fig. 5 illustrates a method of making a slightly modified shingle from a sheet without waste.

Fig. 6 illustrates a. method of cutting a shingle similar to that of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a roofing element embodying a feature of my invention;

Fig. 8 illustrates a method of cutting strips from g a sheet similar to Fig. 2.

In making these shingles, I may utilize any suitable composition roofing material, for instance rag, asbestos or wool felt preferably saturated with a waterproofing material and having no upon one or both sides an additional coating oi.

a bituminous nature and being preferably provided in rolls or continuous sheets. Upon one or both suriaces I then produce bands of various colors in related positions transverse the sheet and 13 running preferably longitudinally of the sheet. These bands may be formed by the use of granulated minerals of difierent colors, applied in any suitable manner or by applying coats of coloring matter to the sheets after the mineral particles 2 as for example, slate of a single color, have been applied. Any suitable coating materials may be used such as a suitable cellulose base paint and/0r phenolic resins and/or colored hydraulic cements. For instance where it is desired to produce the w efiect of relatively wide brick courses separated by narrower bands of mortar, the bands may be mineral particles of suitably contrasting colors or either band may be produced by applying a colored coating substance on a previous color 30 which may be in bands or continuous over the entire surface. The efiect may be produced by forming the wide bands of mineral particles and applying a coating substance at the junction lines of the wide bands, to produce the narrow ones. 8% Another variation is to apply a coating in the form of a single wide band or a plurality of wide bands using colored hydraulic cements and then app ying an additional coating of similar material but of a contrasting color for the narrow bands. Combinations of these methods may also be used.

When the coating process is employed the material may be applied by any suitable means such as by spraying through a stencil and/or by printing. Also, I may if I desire form narrow bands at the transverse edges of the configurations so that when assembled not only are there longitudinal mortar lines but additional transverse ones.

In any case when coatings are applied-over mineral particles they provide an excellent means of anchorage.

The sheet or web is cut up in a suitable manner into individual strips or shingles. These strips are so formed by one method that when laid upon 55 a roof the adjacent elements in the same course will be reversed with reference to their position in the sheet of shingle material from which they were out. By another method strips are cut from a double width sheet with the elements on each half of the sheet matching and elements in the separate halves matching as to form but having their color bands in different order. By packaging alternatelyelements from each half of the sheet in the same bundle a roof of contrasting effects may be obtained without the effort of selecting contrasting elements. A third method contemplated is to form the bands on both sides of the sheet but with bands in similar positions on the opposite sides, of contrasting colors except that for brick effects the narrow or mortar bands are preferably the same on both sides.

In the preferred form I cut the web of material into individual shingles or strips l0, Fig. 1, each shingle having a slit or slot or recess ll adjacent one side and at an adjacent corner a lug I2. The slot H may intersect the side edge or be replaced interiorly therefrom as desired and the lug l2 be formed to enter the slot of an adjacent shingle while permitting the edges of the shingles to aline. When the shingles are assembled, the lug l2 passes down under the shingle so that the two shingles are locked together, and the lug cannot thereafter be readily pulled out of the slot II. By keeping the lower edges of the shingles in line, the shingles will be properly positioned with reference to each other and a united row of shingles will be formed, which may be lapped upon the adjacent lower row as much as may be desired; preferably the lapping being the width of a Wide band. When the courses of shingles are so formed, if the marking of the element is proper, the wide bands will be broken up so that in no instance will wide bands of.

similar effect on adjacent shingles register with each other, thus making each row of wide bands along the roof discontinuous so far as the color or light effects are concerned. When narrow bands are employed in conjunction with wide bands the former will form continuous stripes along the roof.

To accomplish this I provide an even number of wide bands l3 of contrasting colors on the shingles as shown in Figs. 1 to 6. The bands as shown in these figures are separated by narrow stripes M of substantially one color. They may, however, be omitted if desired. The stripes, as heretofore mentioned, may be a coating over the mineral particles or mineral particles of a varied color to contrast with the wide bands or may be the uncoated space between two wide bands formed by a coating over the mineral particles.

An even number of wide bands on each element will give bands of discontinuous effect when assembled with aligned edges whereas if an odd number of wide bands were used and the horizontal edges of the elements were aligned, the central band would be of a single light effect. In laying the shingles to accomplish the discontinuous effect with elements cut as in Figs. 2, 5 or 6, each alternate element is reversed with reference to its original position in the sheet. To get the discontinuous effect with elements cut from a double width sheet as in Fig. 3, the elements of the upper half are reversed with reference to their original position in the web. If coated on both sides, the alternateelements must be reversed as to plane. When the shingles are cut as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 they may be packaged in a continuous stream, no attention being given as to the colors, for when laid by the roofer they will automatically be positioned so that bands of similar light effect on adjacent shingles are not in line as shown in Fig. 4. When the elements are cut as shown in Fig. 3 an additional operation in packaging is desirable so that the package preferably consists of an element from the upper half of the sheet alternating with an element from the lower half of the sheet. The cost of this additional operation is somewhat compensated for by reason that there is no loss of material in cutting. The double surfaced elements may also be packaged in a continuous stream but the plane of alternate elements is reversed.

I do not desire to be limited, however, in making these elements, to the use of an even number of wide bands as an odd number of wide bands may be provided if desired so that when assembled, the blocks of contrasting color in rows of bands will also be produced, but the central portion of each course of shingles will be a continuous band of a single effect. 7

I prefer to form the shingles as indicated in Fig. l with an oblique edge at an angle to the upper' and lower edges of the shingle with one edge substantially straight and with the opposite edge having serrations or steps therein. These steps I prefer to have right angled and of a width of a wide and narrow band so as to provide the rectangular shaped figures illustrated in Fig. 4. When the shingles are assembled as indicated, the entire roof will be covered with figures similar in shape but varying in light appearance. The edge l5, as it is entirely covered by the adjacent shingle, may be as indicated. or may be straight and continuous entirely across the shingle if desired. The stepped edge l6 of the element in Fig. 1 corresponds with the stepped edge l6 of element A, Fig. 3. The straight edge I5 of the element in Fig. 1 corresponds with the straight edge I! of Fig. 6 and one of the stepped edges I8 of Fig. 5.

The length of the figures is determined by the length of the shingle strips and the amount of side lap which is determined by the position of the slit or interior recess H. The position of the slits may Vary on adjacent shingles to give haphazard size effects. The width of the figures is determined by the width of the bands. The dimensions of the figures may therefore be controlled. If desired, the width of the bands may vary but it is desirable to have the bands which are to be aligned of the same widths in order to obtain the effect in Fig 4 after assembly. If the elements have no locks the length of the figures may be varied by varying the side lap in assembly.

In order to more definitely define the bands and particularly the figures or to create mortar joint lines where brick-like effects are desired, when the shingles are assembled, narrow bands or definite stripes l4 as heretofore mentioned may be formed on the shingles after cutting or on the shingle material sheets before cutting between the wide bands l3, as already mentioned.

If these bands are not used it will be seen by referring to Fig. 8, that the rectangular figures are more clearly defined by the edges l9 than by the lines of demarcation between the bands, but by applying stripes I4 the figures are more clearly defined on all sides, as shown in Fig. 4. This is a distinct advantage in producing a clear line of separation between courses. Particular attention is called to the fact that in all modifications, except Fig. 5, one edge of a band M lies on a cut edge of the shingle.

In the element illustrated in Fig. 5, the narrow band 2| may be divided by the edge 22 of an element. When assembled on the roof to produce contrasting effects, the horizontal edges of the elements in a course are aligned and when the second course is laid the elements will lap a part of the band 2 i.

In making the element shown in Fig. 6, the narrow stripe I 4 has alternating wide and narrow portions. The narrow portion of said. stripe intersects a transverse cut I! in adjacent positions. In addition to being cut on the line H, the web is cut across in a stepped formation, with the horizontal line of cut substantially bisecting the wide portion of the narrow stripe and forming extensions of the edges ofthe narrow stripe. The shingles thus cut are of the same configuration when reversed but have the colors of the wide bands reversed to give contrasting colors in corresponding position.

Fig. 7 illustrates a form of shingle strip on which wide and narrow bands of contrasting effects have been made and having slots extending inwardly from one edge to divide the band l3 into blocks. When laid in overlapping courses, the "band I4 serves as a means to register the courses and give the effect of a line of mortar joints, while the surfacing of an under shingle shows through theslots to give the effect of transverse mortar joints. The effect may be similar to that of Fig. 4 wherein the longitudinal mortar bands are distinctive from the transverse lines. One edge of the band l4 lies on a cut edge of the shingle element.

Fig. 8 illustrates a method of forming an odd number of bands on a sheet in which the narrow bands or stripes l4 have been omitteda When assembled on the roof with alternate shingles reversed from their position in the web, the roof will have alternating continuous and'discontinuous bands. Due to the omission of the stripes H the intersection of the bands of contrasting effect form lines of demarcation 20. These lines may be made more pronounced by blending the colors of the bands from a deeper hue at'the line of intersection to lighter ones in the body of the bands, thus creating shadow effects that will have the appearance of separating bands of other effects.

While I have mentioned the use of hydraulic cements'as one of the means of producing varied effects upon my shingle it is very desirable for other reasons than its weather resisting, noncurling, and coloration properties. I have found its use, if only in local regions as indicated by way of example by the dotted lines 23 and 24 in Fig. 1, particularly beneficial on the type of shingle shown herein especially the lock type in that it acts to stiffen and reinforce the locking tabs as l2 in Fig. 1 at their weakest points. Also, it stiflens and strengthens the edges of the recess or receiving means for these tabs to prevent cutting due to shear action. The tabs are also protected from being torn off in handling and packaging and their resistance to curling acts to keep the tabs in flat position in assembly and more securely locked. Also the locks and their receivingmeans are more readily assembled. Fig. 1 discloses a projecting portion at the top and a number of sharp corners at the stepped edges while Fig. 7 shows tabs separated by slots. These spots are especially vulnerable to injury and a coating of hydraulic cement will insure their protection and stop curling.

It is of course preferred that the coating be applied over the entire element but it is entirely possible to coat certain regions in the form of a contrasting band or to coat in localized spots and recoat with other materials. By applying a colored cement to form the band which includes the locking tabs and recesses or slots, I obtain a simultaneous color coat and a stiffening or reinforcement.

In the specification and claims the use of the term band or stripe is synonymous and the recitation of an odd or even number of bands or light or color effects, is used in a broad sense and is-- intended to mean that number of bands whether wide and/or narrow and also that number of contrasting effects.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have produced by simple means an article that may be utilized in forming defined configurations upon roofing surfaces, particularly with reference to brick and mortar formations, producing a roofing element that is simple to apply, forms a pleasing appearance in assemblyand is more economical to manufacture than anything yet known for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned. From a consideration of the various forms disclosed herein, it is obvious that still other modifications might be made in the details of the shingles without departing from the spirit of my invention as disclosed by the following claims. v

I claim:

1. In a. flexible composition shingle, locking means and receiving means thereon having applied thereto a substantially localized coating comprising hydraulic cement, said coating serving to stiffen and reinforce the edges and surrounding regions of said locking means and receiving means and causing same to resist curling in assembly.

2. A plurality of shingle elements assembled in overlapping courses each element having a looking means coacting-with an engaging means of an adjacent element, there being a substantially localized coating on' said locking means and receiving means comprising hydraulic cement, whereby said locking and receiving means 'are stiffened and reinforced at their edge portions and surrounding regions to cause easy engagement of and to prevent curling and injury to said means in assembly.

NORMAN P. HAR SHBERGER. 

